Irish children lag behind on healthy lifestyles

Irish schoolchildren are among the worst when it comes to healthy lifestyles, a World Health Organisation survey says.

Irish primary schoolgirls aged between nine and 11 eat more sweets than their counterparts in 30 European and American countries, according to the survey.

In the nine-to-11 age group Ireland beat Hungary and Poland to come bottom in dental hygiene, with just 45 per cent of boys and girls brushing their teeth twice a day.

Scientists working on the WHO Health Behaviour in School-Aged Children survey sampled 650 Irish pupils from fifth and sixth classes at 111 randomly selected primary schools.

Dr Saoirse Nic Gabhainn, assistant academic director of Health Promotion Studies at NUI Galway, also warned delegates at the National Parents' Council conference in Ennis in Co Clare of the dangers of schoolgirls giving up all strenuous forms of exercise from the age of 15.

Dr Nic Gabhainn said good parent-child relationships have a positive effect on children's physical and mental health.

One in three Irish boys and almost one in two Irish girls said they had difficulty talking to their father. Almost one in four boys and one in six girls found it difficult to talk to their mother. Germany was the only country where more boys said they had difficulty talking to their mothers.